"Greetings, Prince Jing."

  Jun Mo smiled gently. "No need for formalities. I happeo meet Yuanling when I was leaving the pad took the opportunity to visit him to discuss a few matters. I hope I haven't caused too muvenience."

  Su Li stood at the back, peeking through the gap.

  Dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with eyebrows her too sharp nor too soft, his eyes sparkled like a geream in spring, warm like a breeze. His lips curled slightly, making him seem even mentle and noble.

  Su Li had always known that Jun Mo, both in appearand capability, was the most outstanding of the princes.

  As if sensing her gaze, Jun Mo gnced over.

  Su Li quickly lowered her head.

  It was an instinct, the instinct of guilt.

  The others rose, and the Duchess of the State exged pleasantries with Jun M her grandson to invite him to take a seat.

  "Please take a seat, Prince Jing. Yuanling, you should have sent someoo inform us earlier. This humble meal is no match for yh status," the Duchess of the State said.

  Jun Mo deed politely. "There's no need for sualities, old madam. Yuanling and I are friends; treat me like a junior. I certainly ot take the seat of honor."

  The Duchess of the State was about to insist, but she was interrupted by Wei Yuanling.

  "Grandmother, o say more. Ziya care about such things. It's not like he's never been here before."

  Lady Wang smiled and said, "Alright, everyone, please take your seats."

  The atmosphere in Tianqi was retively open-minded, so there was no need for a strict separation of genders during such small gatherings.

  "Little cousin?! You're Li'er, Little Cousin?" Wei Yuanling excimed as he looked at Su Li in surprise.

  He hadn’t noticed before, but now he saw the veiled woman standing behind the crowd.

  Those eyes were exactly like his aunt's.

  Su Li bowed politely and called out softly, "Cousin."

  Jun Mo also gnced over, smiling, though the smile was tinged with a certain distance.

  Su Li lowered her head again.

  In some ways, Jun Mo reminded her of herself.

  Both of them wore masks.

  She used gentleness as a disguise, while he wore warmth and harmlessness as a facade.

  Wei Yuanling smiled. "No wonder I’ve been seeing grandmother so cheerful today. It turns out you’ve arrived."

  Lady Wang ughed. "Please, take your seat."

  The Duchess of the State took the seat of honor, and the others seated themselves one by one.

  Su Li noticed that when Jun Mo sat down, he instinctively touched his knee.

  So his leg dition had bee this serious.

  Su Li had scars on her face, so she wore a veil.

  She gracefully removed her veil, and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

  They had expected her to feel awkward because of Jun Mo’s presence, but instead, she was so poised and graceful.

  The Duchess of the State silently nodded in approval.

  Even Jun Mo, usually calm and posed, showed some surprise in his eyes.

  After lunch, Wei Yuanling and Jun Mo went to the study to discuss business.

  Wei Yuanyao pulled Su Li aside. "Li'er, I just got a rare bck orchid. It's precious! I remember you like orchids too. e, let me show you in the garden."

  Su Li smiled faintly and nodded.

  The two walked hand in hand toward the garden, with several maidservants following behind them.

  "Li'er, look. Isn't it beautiful?" Wei Yuanyao poio a dark orchid, proudly showing it off.

  Su Li nodded. "It’s indeed lovely. Cousin, this flower is quite rare."

  Wei Yuanyao smiled. "Yes, it was a gift from Empress Yuly. Little cousin, e closer and smell it. It's very fragrant."

  Su Li frowned slightly.

  Empress Yun was Jun Mo’s birth mother.

  Her family, the Jiang family, had once been a minor mert family, but after Empress Yuered the pace, they rose to bee a powerful .

  Su Li looked at Wei Yuanyao, who was smiling brightly, and asked, "Cousin, are you very close to Empress Yun?"

  Could it be that this mother and son had their sights set on the Wei family's military power? Were they pnning to use her cousin?

  Wei Yuanyao noticed her serious expression and shook her head. "No, I wasn’t close to Empress Yun before. I don’t even know why she’s suddenly taken an i in me. She said I resemble her niece, and because she’s homesick, she sometimes calls me to talk."

  The Jiang family had been from Shuzhou, inally just a wealthy mert family. After Jiang Yuered the pace, they gradually rose to prominence.

  Su Li furrowed her brow. "Didn’t grandfather or uncle say anything about this?"

  She remembered that her grandfather and uncle were particurly wary of them getting involved with the royal family.

  Now that the current emperor was elderly, and the prince’s health was worsening, the politidscape was being even more treacherous.

  The Wei family didn't involve itself in court struggles. They simply pledged allegiao whoever sat ohrone, remaining loyal ministers.

  Wei Yuanyao nodded. "They did mention it. They said Empress Yun summoned me on imperial orders and that I must be cautious around the Sixth Prince."

  Su Li nodded. "Grandfather and uncle are right."

  Wei Yuanyao had a straightforersonality. She would never survive in the pace, with its stant intrigue.

  Suddenly, Wei Yuanyao furrowed her brows. "Li'er, I remember you always had clever ideas when you were little. Help me think of a way. Mother’s been pushio meet suitors tely, and it's driving me crazy."

  Su Li looked at her cousin’s face, which was sched up in frustration, and smiled. "Cousin, what’s the worry? A man must marry when he’s of age, and a woman must marry wheime es. Maybe your future husband will be a dashing young man."

  Her aunt’s haste in arranging matches likely came from her fear that the pace would take an i in Wei Yuanyao.

  Su Li recalled that in her previous life, she’d heard her mother mention that Wei Yuanyao had been engaged once, but just before the wedding, the groom’s family suffered a death, so he had to observe m for three years.

  Had it not been for that, maybe her cousin wouldn’t have...

  Thinking about the words Su Yue had said to her before her death, Su Li ched her fists.

  "Little cousin? What’s wrong?"

  Su Li snapped out of her thoughts and replied gently, "It’s nothing. Cousin, just go along with Aunt’s wishes ahe suitors. You don’t have to marry right away; it’s up to you to decide. Aunt won’t force you, so don’t worry."

  Wei Yuanyao thought about it and agreed. She could always reject them if she didn’t like anyone.

  If she turned down enough suitors, her mother would eventually stop pushing.

  Leaving behind the troubling thoughts, Wei Yuanyao looked at the flowers in the garden ahey had grown three times more beautiful.

  Looking at Su Li, who stood among the flowers, her graceful figure and almond-shaped eyes revealed through her veil, Wei Yuanyao couldn't help but excim, "Little cousin, you’re truly beautiful."

  As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized it might have been inappropriate.

  "Sorry, little cousin. But I meant it sincerely. Your face will definitely heal. You’ve already helped grandmother with her leg dition. A little scar like that should be nothing."

  Su Li suddenly raised her voice, "Yes, I’m quite skilled iing leg ditions. For example, frostbite or injuries from a fall have a very high ce of recovery."

  Wei Yuanyao looked at her curiously, w why Su Li had suddenly spoken so loudly.

  Then, from behind, the voice of Wei Yuanling could be heard.

  "Little cousin treat leg injuries? Is that true?" His voice was filled with both urgend joy.

  Wei Yuanyao patted her chest, startled. "Brother, you scared me!"

  "Li'er really treat medical ditions. Frandmother’s severe leg ailment, after Li'er applied some pressure, grandmother felt much better."

  Wei Yuanling turo Jun Mo behind him, excitedly saying, "Ziyan..."

  Jun Mo subtly shook his head, signaling for him to stay silent.

  Wei Yuanling immediately quieted down.

  Su Li uood that he was highly cautious and would never easily trust others, nor would he expose his weaknesses without hesitation.

  [----------------°-------------]

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